updated 10:35 am EST, Wed February 5, 2014

Suggests iWatch could be used to improve sleep quality

Apple has hired Roy J.E.M Raymann -- formerly a senior scientist at Philips Research -- in what is likely another attempt to bolster its iWatch team, reports say. While at Philips, Raymann specialized in sleep research, and also had experience in wearable devices/sensors and other means of improving sleep quality. When reached for comment, Philips confirmed that Raymann had left on January 1st, but would neither confirm nor deny the name of his new employer. In December Raymann also departed a role at the Dutch Society for Sleep-Wake Research.

Apple has been hiring a number of experts on health and fitness during the past year, but Raymann may be the first known to specialize in sleep. That suggests that the iWatch will able to track sleep patterns, and possibly wake people silently and/or at an ideal time. Similar technology is already in the FitBit, a fitness tracker with smartwatch-like qualities.

As part of the iWatch project, Apple is believed to be developing an app nicknamed "Healthbook," capable of tracking and storing data such as blood pressure, heart rate, and hydration. This along with previous reports indicates that the iWatch may have a wide array of sensors.